Presidential contest nearly doubles results
A record-breaking 7,689 early voters cast ballots in St. Charles Parish in what’s been described as one of the most contentious presidential elections in U.S. history.
“This is just an unbelievable turnout,” said Brian Champagne, parish registrar of voters. “I’m very proud of the people who came prepared to vote and of our process.”
While Champagne said voters apparently didn’t want to discuss candidates openly, they didn’t hesitate to act in the booth when it came to voting on candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Tuesday’s voter number could get even higher next week when paper ballots are counted, a number that could reach 7,800, blowing away earlier totals of 4,992 in 2012 and 4,774 in 2008.
Champagne said efforts to keep voter lines moving at the St. Charles Courthouse and Allen Arterbury Memorial Building were successful. Additional voting machines were provided at both locations.
This year’s presidential primary election ballot also includes six Constitutional amendments.
Proposed amendments are as follows:
-Amendment 1: Require standards of professional and educational experience for local registrars of voters and more public disclosure in the hiring process. According to the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), the move was prompted to ensure registrars can handle new technology, but it could be problematic in rural parishes and they already have access to training.
-Amendment 2: Would allow higher education management boards to set tuition rates and fees without legislative approval. According to PAR, Louisiana remains one of two states that does not allow colleges this authority. However, PAR also says the Legislature has been responsive.
-Amendment 3: Would eliminate the deduction for federal income taxes paid by corporations when calculating state income taxes while triggering a flat corporate tax rate of 6.5 percent. PAR says the amendment along with companion legislation would give corporations the flat rate, but also give up the federal tax deduction. PAR maintains the measure should be held and included with an overall tax package including personal income tax and sales tax reforms.
-Amendment 4: Give surviving spouses of military, fire protection officers and law enforcement personnel who died on duty a full property tax exemption on their home. PAR says they already get breaks in parish property taxes depending on location while adding to it would be a good gesture. However, PAR also says these exemptions overall are adding up and should be stopped.
-Amendment 5: Would create the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund from a portion of revenues from corporate and mineral taxes for infrastructure and pension liabilities. PAR says two of the state’s most volatile revenue sources are mineral revenue and corporate taxes. PAR supports the move rather than the Legislature spending nearly every dollar it receives in a fiscal year, but it also maintains there are more transparent means to stabilize the budget.
-Amendment 6: Would provide legislators a new way to tap constitutionally protected funds during revenue downturns and also extends protection to five existing funds. PAR cautions the trigger to use protected funds should be high enough to discourage using them, but also allow the Legislature to access them during severe budget deficits and not discourage it from adopting long-term and comprehensive budget reform.
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